June 01, 2012 10:31 PM

The levy defeat and subsequent dismantling of the sheriff's office, district attorney's staff and juvenile justice program have put Josephine County in a harsh light. Longtime residents say it exposed an anti-government negativity in a place victimized by economic factors it can't control.
For decades, Josephine and other Oregon timber counties relied on millions in federal timber sales to pay for sheriff's deputies, jails, roads, prosecutors, health clinics and other services.
It seemed a fair deal. Federal land makes up 60 percent of the landbase in some counties, but isn't subject to property taxes. So the feds shared harvest revenue with the counties.
They were bound tight. In Josephine County, the shoulder patch on sheriff's uniforms features a loaded log truck.
But the near shut-down of logging on federal forests cost the counties dearly. Congress in 2000 approved a payment program to replace the timber money, and extended it twice, but it ended this past year. A proposal to extend the payments once again is stalled in a deadlocked Congress, leaving 33 Oregon counties with combined revenue losses of $215 million annually. -- Eric Mortensen

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1 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Deputy Steve Lombardo moves supplies into cell block 800, which is now an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

2 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Cell block 800, which housed several prisoners now release of. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

3 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - A section of the hearing room inside the jail. Several sentencing hearings took place in advance of the release of the prisoners to insure that those awaiting sentences in state prison could receive their sentencing and be transferred out. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

4 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Supplies and uniforms were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

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5 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - This was the main booking area of the Josephine County Adult Jail. It is no longer in use. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

6 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Supplies and uniforms were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

7 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Supplies and uniforms were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

8 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Supplies and uniforms were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

9 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Erin Maue, a statistician and public information officer with the Sheriff's Office, stands among several uniforms, which were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

10 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Supplies and uniforms were turned in this week after several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

11 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - The Major Crimes unit, which is being dismantled after all of the employees there, including several detectives, were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

12 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - The shower and bathroom stalls inside cell block 100, which is no longer in use. The poster reads, "How do you live your life when nobody's watching?" The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

13 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - The Major Crimes unit, which is being dismantled after all of the employees there, including several detectives, were laid off. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

14 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Cell block 100, which is no longer in use. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

15 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - An inmate watches from inside cell 701, which is an observation cell inside the jail. Inmates are held there to be observed for a variety of reasons. At left is Deputy William Kelly. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, which is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

16 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Cell block 800, which housed several prisoners now release of. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

17 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Stacks of tooth paste and other supplies are now in cell block 800, which housed several of the release of prisoners. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

18 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Cell block 800, which housed several prisoners now release of. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

19 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Cell block 800, which housed several prisoners now release of. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

20 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Baskets containing inmates clothing that they were wearing at the time of arrest are held in cell block 800, which housed several of the release of. It is now being used as an intake area. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

21 of 21Link to this photo | Comments about this photo essayJOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON - May 31, 2012 - Inside cell block 800, Sgt. Teresa O'Brien and Deputy Joseph Nichols go over a list of the remaining prisoners, making determinations on how they should be placed together in the remaining space. The officers are having to integrate inmates from differing classifications. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office release of 39 inmates this week from the jail, is part of the county's continued response to voter defeat of a law enforcement property tax levy. The measure, defeated in the May primary, would have funded the sheriff's office, district attorney and juvenile justice program. Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian